Refrigerator



March 13, 1934. Y G. A WARREN ET Al? 1,951,074

REFRIGERATOR 'Filed May 5, 1951 s sham-snm` 1 /f .7 /0 o1 i I i L \1\ o /a L t LE Inventors l A Homey March 13, 1934. G. A. WARREN Er AL REFRIGERATOR Filed May 5. 1951 I5 Sheets- Sheet 3 o MW J Mu WVM By @waa/@im llorney Patented Mar. 13, 1934 c PATENT OFFlCE REFRIGERATOR Glenn A. Warren and William B. Simpson, Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., 'assignors of one-third to Edward R. Williams, Corcoran,y Calif.

Application May 5, 1931, Serial No. 535,200

2 Claims. (Cl. (i2-91.5)

This invention relates to a refrigerator and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction and arrangement of parts for more effectively and elciently utilizing a suitable cooling medium for cooling a compartment or container in which articles to be refrigerated are placed, the structure being particularly adapted for the use of 0 solid carbon dioxide, commonly known as dry ice, asthe cooling medium but it is understood, of course, that any suitable cooling medium may' be used.

Other objects of-theinvention are to provide a refrigerator of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable.

reliable in use and which may be manufacture at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designatey corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the refrigerating unit mounted in a compartment to be refrigerated, said compartment being showr principally in Y'vertical cross section.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through Figure l. i

LFigure 3 is a fragmentary detail view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the gas control valve.A

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view 'principally in vertical section through the form of the device illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures l to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, it will beseen that the reference numeral l designates an enclosure or container which provides the compartment to be refrigeratedsaid enclosure or container 1 being of any 5 suitable size, shape and material and having one end closed by a hinged door An inner container designated generally by the reference numeral 3 for the reception of the dry ice 4 or other suitable medium is mounted in elevated positionin the compartment l onthe expansion coil 5 which has one end communicating with the interior of the dry ice compartment to receive gas therefrom. The dry ice container 3 comprises spaced inner and outer Walls 6 and 7,

respectively, between which isdisposed suitable heat insulating material 8. The container 3 further includes inner and outer doors 9 and 10, respectively, for sealing the container 3.

The remaining end of i the expansion coil 5 is arranged to vent to the atmosphere through a valve 11 which is normally kept closed by a spring 12. A head 13 of the valve is mounted on one end of a rocker arm 14 which is pivotally mounted on an upstanding rod 15 on the ice container 3. IThe other end of the rocker arm 14 is operatively connected by a rod 16 to a thermostat 1 '1 which is disposed in the refrigerating compartment provided by the enclosure or container 1, said thermostat 17 being shown mounted on one side of the ice con- 70 tainer 3.

In use, when the temperature in the refrigerating compartment 1 is above the desired degree, the thermostat 17 opens the valve 11 to permit free passage of the gas formed in the 1l ice container 3 by the sublimating ice 4 or other suitable medium,l through the expansion coil 5 to the atmosphere. When the temperature in the compartment l has dropped to the desired level, the thermostat 17 closes the valve 30 11 by moving the head 12 toward its closed position for stopping or reducing the volume of gas passing to the atmosphere from the ice container 3- through the expansion coil 5. It will thus be seen that automatic thermostatically controlled means is provided for regulating the flow of the gas generated by the sublimating dry ice 4 through the expansion coil 5.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings,V there is disclosed a form of the invention which may be employed within the enclosure 1 or utilized by itself, separated from the enclosure 1. If this form of the invention is used within the enclosure 1 the outer wall of the container 18 is eliminated, but when the same is used as a g5 separate unit, the insulating outer wall is provided to properly confine the cold within the container 18. An open topped container 18 for the reception of the dry ice or other cooling medium is formed of a. suitable metal' which is a 100 good conductor of heat and may be placed in 'the compartment or enclosure l to cool the air therein by direct contact. The container 18 is provided with a removable closure 19 which `is secured thereon by suitable means such as that designated 20. A safety valve 21 is mounted on the closure 19 of the container 18.

The reference numeral 22 designates generally a storage compartment in which articles to be refrigerated are placed. Said storage compartment comprises spaced inner and outer walls 23 and 24, respectively, providing a gas re' ceiving space or chamber therebetween with which the interior of the dry ice container 18 is connected by a conduit 25. Closing one end of the storage compartment 22 is a hinged door 26 and, if desired, said storage compartment may further be provided with suitable shelves (not shown) for supporting the articles to be refrigerated thereon. A suitable pressure opera,- ted exhaust valve 27 is provided for permitting the escape of the cooling gas to the atmosphere from between the inner and outer walls 23 and 24 of the storage compartment 22, said exhaust valve 27 being mounted ona suitable pipe 28.

As will be obvious, gas formed by the sublimating dry ice or other suitable medium in the container 11 passes through the conduit 25 and into thespace between the inner and outer Walls 23 and 24 of the storage compartment or container 22 (thus materially lowering the temperature in the container 22 and maintaining the same at a low point.

If desired, the exhaust valve may be entirely pressure controlled. It will further be understood that the insulating material 8 may be eliminated in Figure 2v of the drawings. It is believed that the many advantages of a refrigerator in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Any suitable means may be provided for adjusting the exhaust valves, thereby regulating the pressure in the dry ice chambers for controlling the meltingfof the ice. In this manner sirable feature of the invention.

What is claimed is:=-

1. A refrigerating device for installation in a refrigerator or the like comprising, an insulated dry-ice container, a refrigerating chamber composed of an inner and an outer shell forming therebetween a passage, a conduit communicating the interior of the dry-ice container and this passage for circulating therein gas generated in the dry-ice container by the dry-ice, said conduit being introduced into the said passage at the upper end thereof, and pressure operated gas release means communicating through the outer shell with the passage for releasing gas from the passage to the atmosphere.

2. A refrigerating device for installation in a refrigerator or the like comprising, an insulated dry-ice container equipped with a removable cover carrying safety valve means, a refrigerating chamber composed of an inner and an outer shell forming therebetween a passage, a conduit communicating the interior of the dry-ice container and this passage `for circulating therein gas generated in the dry-ice container by the dry-ice, said conduit being intro' duced into the said passage at the upper end thereof, and pressure operated gas release means communicated with said passage through the outer shell for releasing gas from the passage.

GLENN A. WARREN. WILLIAM B. SIMPSON, JR. 

